Ironing device



.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. HUTCHINS, OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 PER-RY AND I-IUTCHINS LAUNDRY APPLIANCE COM- PANY INCORPORATED, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

IRONING DEVICE.

Application filed January 19,1920.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. HUTCH- INs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Ed ewood, city of Cranston, in the county of rovince and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ironing devices adapted more particularly for ironing the sleeves of shirts or other garments, but which may be employed for ironing any tubular fabric; and the object of this invention is to provide such va device with an arm formed of two or more parts, which parts are adapted to receive relative movement for the purpose of adjusting or regulating the operating size of the arm.

A further object of the invention is to pivotally mount one part of the arm so that it may receive opening, closing and rocking movements relative to the other member of the arm.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the operating surfaces of the relativelyemovable members of the arm with interlocking portions whereby no continuous space is left throughout the length of the arm when the parts of the arm are in open or expanded position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more i'ully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating myl improved ironing device as supported on a standard.

Fig. 2- is a side elevation showing the two aws of the ironing arm, and illustrating the interlocking feature at the meeting edges of these jaws.

Fig. 3- is a top view of my ironing device.

Fig. 4.- is a detail illustrating a portion of the supporting lever on which the movable member of the ironing arm is pivotally held and the pivot eye engaged by this lever.

Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. n

With reference to the drawing, 10 desig- Specication of Letters Patent. Patented June 21, 1921.

Serial No. 352,431.

nates the standard or frame on which the mechanism is supported at a suitable working distance from the floor. On the upper end of this frame I have mounted a pair of oppositely-extending, hollow ironing arms 11 and 12, the arm 12 being of the usual non-expansible type while `the arm l1 is made in two or more parts adapted to receive a relative adjustment.

. In the construction herein shown the upper portion 13 of the arm is fixed to the standard 10 while the lower portion or jaw 14 of this arm is formed separate and independent of the upper portion thereof. This lower jaw is supported on a lever 15, the outer end oi which is reduced at 16 and passes through an eye member secured in the U-shaped chamber 18 in this jaw. This supporting lever is pivoted at 19 in the standard, its opposite end being pivotally connected at 2O to the connecting rod 21, the lower end of which rod is pivoted at 22 to the lever 23 which latter is pivoted at 24 at one end to the standard, and a weight 25 is mounted on the outer end of this lever for the purpose of counter-balancing the weight of the aw 14 to normally hold it in closed position. A foot lever 40 is arranged to open the jaw as often as desired.

Both the arms 11 and 12 are formed hollow and a partition 26 extends longitudinally therethrough forming steam passages whereby the seam is caused to enter through the inlet pipe 27, passed through chamber 28 around the end 29 of the partition 26 through chamber 41 and along the length of both arms 11 and 12, around the end 30 of partition 26 and out through the iieXible steam pipe 31 into the hollow chamber 37 in the lower jaw. From here it passes along one side of the til-shaped chamber 18 around the end 32 oi' the partition 38 and back on the other side 34 thereof and then out to the waste through the flexible discharge pipe 35.

By my improved construction of forming the ironing arm in two partsand pivotally mounting the lower or movable part or jaw on a supporting lever, this jaw por- Y j jaw by being pivoted on this supporting lever may be rocked in the pivot eye 17, whereby it will adjust itself to the different shapes of sleeves as thev are being drawn thereover.

It is found in practice that if the meeting edges of the adjustable parts of the arm were straight, when these parts were separated a space would -be left which would leave a portion of the sleeve unironed, as it is drawn on to and o of the arm. To obviate this difficulty, I have provided interlocking portions 38 along the meeting edges of the jaws of these relatively movable parts whereby no continuous space would be left open when the jaws or parts are separated. In this way it will be seen that the operating surface ofthe parts of the ironing arm are left substantially continu-ous, whereby the action of drawing a sleeve on or o will cause the whole of the surface of the sleeve to engage some portion of the surface of the arm and receive an ironing action. Then again by an opening and closing action of the operating jaw, which may be accomplished by manipulating the foot lever 40, a lateral ironing eiiect takes place on the inside of the sleeve in addition to the ironing effect caused by drawing the work on to and ofi `of the heated arm.

I have shown and described my improved adjustable ironing arm as being constructed of two parts but any number of parts may be employed and adapted to receive relative adjustment for the purpose of regulating the operating sizes of the arm.

I have also shown a one-piece arm mounted on the same standard with the expansi'ble arm vbut the one-piece arm may be omitted if desired.

By the use of my improved ironing arm which is provided with a plurality of adjustable parts a number of advantages are obtained; first, the sleeve may be readily drawnk onto the arm while the lower jaw is somewhat open or in position to fit the larger sizes of sleeves, and also be free to close slightly to accommodate smaller sleeves. y Y

The arm and the lower jaw may also be subsequently moved by the foot lever to draw the sleeve tightly over the :surface thereof and so iron the saine` without wrinkles being formed in the sleeve; second, by pivotally mounting the jaw it will not only accommodate itself to sleeves of different sizes but also to sleeves of different shapes, which is essential in producing first class work; third, by connecting the moving parts with iiexible hose no movable steam joints are required, simply the standard steam tight hose connections are made.

My improvedironing device is extremely simple in construction and effective in its operation and by its use the ironing of any tubular fabric may be accomplished` very rapidly and a high quality of work obtained and that without the employment of skilled labor.

The foregoing description is directed solely toward the construction. illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An ironing device comprising an arm formed of two members. one member being movable relative to the otherto adjust the working size of the arm, the operating surface of said members having intermeshing portions which are flush with each other, and means for heating saidmembers.

2. An ironing device comprising an arm formed of two members, one member being pivotally hung whereby both ends may be adjusted relative to the other member, said member having a smooth ironing surface, and means for heating said members. i

8; An ironing device comprising an arm formed of two members, one member being pivotally hung intermediate its ends to receive an opening and closing movement also a rocking movement relative to the other member. Y

4. An ironing device comprisingan arm formed of a plurality of parts adapted to receive relative movement to adjust its operating size, the meeting edges of said parts having` intermeshing portions and means for heating said parts.

5. An ironing device comprising an arm formed in two parts, a rocker lever, one of said parts beingpivotally supported on said lever to receive both a lateral and a rocking movement. v

6. An ironing device comprising an arm formed in two parts, a rocker lever, one of said parts being pivotally supported on said lever to receive both a lateral and a rocking movement, and means for heating said parts.

7. An ironing device comprising an arm formed of a plurality of relatively-movable parts, a foot pedal for actuating said movable parts, and means for heating said parts.

8. An ironing device comprising an arm formed in two parts, a rocker lever, one of said parts being pivotally supported on said lever to receive both a lateral and a rocking movement, means counterbalancing the weight of said moving part, and manuallyoperable means including said lever for imparting motion to .said Vmovable part.

9. An ironing device comprising an arm having one fixed and one relatively-movable member, said latter member being adjusted in the direction of its width, said members having flush Vinterlocking surfaces at their meeting edges presenting a continuous longitudinal ironing surface.

10. An ironing device comprising an arm formed of a plurality of parts, means for supporting .said parts whereby relative movement may be obtained to regulate both its operating size and shape, said arm being provided With internal passageways for controlling the circulation of a heating medium through said parts, and a flexible 10 fluid `conductor for applying a heating medium to said movable parts.

In testimon whereof I aflix mv signature.

RTHUR W. HUTCHINS. 

